McFadden won four major marathons – Boston, London, Chicago, and New York – in both of the past two years.

On the men's side, Marcel Hug of Switzerland won in 1:29:53.

Weather: Cloudy, Cool, Wet

The weather early Monday morning wasn't bad for running a marathon: Cloudy and cool, with temperatures in the mid 40s with a light breeze. Light rain was reported by mid-morning, along with heavier winds.

But later, the winds picked up–straight into the runners–as did the rain. TV reports said wind chill values were in the upper 30s.

Sunday, April 19

Movie About the Man Behind Meb

A Boston theater on Sunday held a screening of "City Slickers Can't Stay With Me: The Coach Bob Larsen Story." The two-hour documentary details Larsen's coaching career, from high school to Grossmont College to UCLA, where Larsen first started coaching Meb Keflezighi. Interspersed with runner interviews is footage of Keflezighi training in Mammoth Lakes, California, and competing at various high-profile events. When the film showed Keflezighi breaking the tape at last year's Boston Marathon, the audience, roughly 100 strong, clapped and cheered. Keflezighi attended the screening with several members of his family.

Sunday Selfies

A little after noon on Sunday, the elite men's field went to the finish line on Bolyston Street for a group media photo. Little did they know that wasn't the only picture they'd be taking.

Once the crowd of non-competitive runners and their families caught wind that top runners like Meb Keflezighi and Dathan Ritzhenhein were in their presence, all cell phones quickly shifted attention to tomorrow's lead pack.

Most runners were more than happy to pause for a selfie (or five) or sign a quick fan autograph before being shuttled back to a briefing in Boston Common. Here's Meb getting ready to take a picture:

While not in the elite field Monday, ultra runner Scott Jurek was also spotted in the crowd posing with fans. He'll be running with Team With a Vision, an organization that fields teams of visually impaired runners with sighted guides.

Top American contender Desiree Linden found a creative (and generous) way to make some quiet time for herself today so she can relax without worrying about her friends and family who are in Boston to support her.

"I just bought Red Sox tickets for everyone who's going to be in my way," she said during a Brooks event on Saturday, adding that her husband, Ryan, is included in that group.

Saturday, April 18

Marathoners Make Better School Bus Passengers Than Students, Unless They Have to Pee

Early in the morning on Marathon Monday, Boston runners worry about getting to the finish. Ed Bourgault worries about getting them to the start.

Bourgault says he is just a normal school bus driver for 364 days a year. But on the third Monday of April, he has the privilege of taking part in a logistical miracle--shuttling 30,000 people from the Boston Common to the town of Hopkinton.

“The first time I did this I was amazed that you could get that many thousands of people to line up in an orderly fashion and board buses 50 at a time,” Bourgault said.

This will be the 64-year-old’s ninth year driving Boston Marathoners in his school bus, one of 815 used to transport participants to the start. Although he’s unsure the exact distance from Boston to Hopkinton--we bet every single one of his passengers on Monday morning could tell him--he is certain of two things.

The ride takes about 30 minutes, and without fail every year, an over-hydrated runner has to dart into the woods while Bourgault eases forward in stop-and-go traffic.

“When it’s an urgent need, you just have to let them off,” he said.

Bourgault doesn’t mind. Marathoners are his favorite passengers.

“For one thing, everybody wants to be on my bus that morning.”

The energetic runners in technical T-shirts provide a stark contrast to the weary high schoolers he normally drives.

His appreciation for Boston runners is one reason why Bourgault worked an 18-hour shift in 2013 when the bombs exploded at the finish. He was one of eight bus drivers still near the course when the race shut down. He opened his doors to stranded runners, shepherding them to a safe place where they could reunite with friends and family. In many cases, he was the first person to let them know what happened, offering up his cell phone so they could let people know where they were.

Two years later, Bourgault will be back in the driver’s seat before sunrise.

“Marathoners are pretty crazy, so from one crazy person to another I have respect for the runners,” he said. “They are a pretty friendly bunch. I wish I could do this kind of thing everyday.”

Ethiopians Take Top Spots at BAA Invitational Mile

After leading for much of their races, Ethiopians Dejen Gebremeskel and Dawit Seyaum swept the professional heats of the BAA Invitational Mile.

Gebremeskel, the 2012 Olympic silver medalist in the 5000 meters, finished in 4:04.1, a time just shy of the existing record of 4:03.3 set by New Zealander Nick Willis in 2013.

Seyaum had a bit more luck on her side regarding records--the 18-year-old topped the otherwise all-American field with a time of 4:35.4, which lowered the event record set by Anna Willard in 2009 by three seconds.

"I decided while I was racing I thought maybe it was better for me to push," Seyaum said through a translator about her first road mile.

Heather Kamph finished in second with a time of 4:37.0, followed closely by Morgan Uceny in 4:37.7.

"I was really happy with the race until the final 100 meters," Uceny said. "I think the monkey really got on my back."

Friday, April 17

It’s deep royal purple and neon orange, bright enough to see from across the street, never out of view on tall racks inside the Adidas booth at the Boston Marathon Expo.

Thousands of runners will drop $110 for an official Boston Marathon finishers jacket, but many won’t put it on, let alone look at it, until after they cross the finish on Monday.

"Oh no, you can't wear the jacket," Sophie Olmsted said. The 19-year-old, running her second Boston Marathon, gingerly handed the apparel to her mom after pulling it off the rack. She said she won’t see it again until the duo reunites at the family meet-up area after the race. "I just think wearing it jinxes you," she said.

Kate Tighe, a first-time Boston runner, agreed. "You cannot wear the jacket yet," she said. After quickly trying one on, Tighe handed the jacket to her friend, who will guard it until Monday afternoon.

"It's just part of Boston lore," said Tighe, who lives in Boston. "I don't know why, but everyone I talk to says you're not allowed to wear it until you finish."

Of course, some runners don't buy that. Michael Young strutted around the Adidas booth in a 2015 finishers jacket he purchased weeks ago. "Wearing it before the race has never been an issue for me," the six-time Boston qualifier said. "I'm just not superstitious." He's worn a finishers jacket before the race every year, and finished all six times.

Tighe doesn't want to temp fate though. She said it's more than just a piece of clothing. "It's a prize. It says, 'I did this, I earned it through broken toenails, blisters, and snow.' "

In the crowded booth as more runners reached for their own jackets, Tighe gave one last glance at the hanger in her friend's hand before they went to the cashier. "I can't wait to put it on," she said.

Thursday morning marked the grand opening of the Boston Marathon RunBase, a store located near the 26-mile marker on the marathon course at 855 Boylston Street.

Mayor Marty Walsh made the first purchase at the store--it looks like he bought a pair of Adidas shoes--which also features a museum highlighting the race's history and locker room complete with showers.

Most Bostonians are probably glad to see the last of the record amounts of snowfall finally melt away. But one resident, armed with a spark of inspiration, decided to use the last of the white stuff to build a sculpture in Boston Common, reports the Boston Globe.

George Li transformed the mounds into the message "B Strong," the phrase that captured the essence of the city's resilience after the attacks in 2013.

“With so many events going on--the trial, the marathon, the end of the snow season--everyone was sick of winter, and putting it behind them, so I decided to build it,” Li told the Globe. “It means so many different things to so many different people.”

Monday, April 13

Scott Jurek to Run Boston as Guide for Visually Impaired

Scott Jurek usually runs ultramarathons, taking on 135-mile and 24-hour runs. He’s jumping down in distance on April 20 for a good cause.

Jurek is joining Team With a Vision, an organization that fields teams of visually impaired runners with sighted guides, to run the 2015 Boston Marathon. On Patriots’ Day, Jurek will be a sighted guide for Thomas Panek, the president and CEO of Guiding Eyes for the Blind, an internationally accredited guide dog school.

Jurek is a veteran of long-distance races like the Badwater 135-mile race and the Western States 100. Panek, 44, is no rookie, either. Panek is racing the Boston Marathon for the second year in a row after running 6:06:59 in 2014. He has also raced the New York City Marathon. He lives in South Salem, New York, with his wife, Melissa, and their four children.

Team With a Vision works with the Massachusetts Association for the Blind and Visually Impaired each year to match visually impaired runners with guides. This is the 22nd year they have a team running Boston.

The Team’s runners—both visually impaired and sighted—participate to raise funds and awareness, and inspire others with disabilities. Team With a Vision has raised about $80,000, with a goal of $150,000 for the 2015 event, according to a press release.

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